U.S. national who killed two Pakistanis sent to jail
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A court in Pakistan on Friday sent an American employee to jail, detained on double murder charges, court officials said.
Raymond Davis, an employee of the U.S. Consulate, shot dead two Pakistanis on Jan. 27 in the eastern city of Lahore, sparking protest in Pakistan and a diplomatic row between the two allies.
The United States has reportedly suspended all high level talks with Pakistan and several congressmen threatened suspension of aid if their man was not freed.
The shooter claimed that he had acted in self-defense as the two armed men wanted to rob him. Families of the American rejected the charges.
A third Pakistani was crushed to death by a U.S. Consulate vehicle that went to help the diplomat shortly after the shooting incident.
Davis was produced in a court in Lahore on Friday after he completed 14-day physical police remand and the judge ordered that the accused should be sent to jail on 14-day judicial remand. Reports said that the accused will be kept in a special barrack in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat prison.
The authorities had taken tight security measures and officials from the U.S. embassy also visited the courts area to review the security. The American shooter was brought to the court in an armored vehicle from a police lock-up.
The issue has caused tension between the two allies as Washington asked for Davis release, saying that he enjoys diplomatic immunity. Pakistani officials and investigators said that the case is in the court and it will decide it. They also said that the accused has not proved his diplomatic immunity.
The Lahore High Court has barred the government from handing over the American citizen to the U.S., and also ordered the government to put his name on the Exit Control List. Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik said Davis has been put on the list.
In Islamabad, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said Pakistan will not accept any pressure for the release of the U.S. accused and that the court will decide his fate.
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